Cloth merchants in Gujarat continue indefinite strike against 5% GST on textiles

Cloth shop owners in various parts of Gujarat have decided to continue their indefinite strike against five per cent GST levied on textiles, a day after police baton-charged protesting members of their association in Surat.

The Maskati market in Ahmedabad, a major textile centre in the state, wore a deserted look as around 25000-30000 traders observed a shutdown, protesting police high- handedness with agitating traders in Surat.

They said the shops will remain shut indefinitely till the time their demands on GST were not met by the government.

Thousands of protesting members had gathered yesterday near the Ring Road in Surat, where the main market is situated, demanding scrapping of GST on textiles.

The GST Sangharsh Samiti had called for an indefinite bandh on Sunday in the Surat textile market, which is one of the largest in the country.

Several cloth markets in the state have since remained closed as most traders have not registered for the new tax system and do not have the GST number. They are hoping that the central government will intervene to resolve the situation.

Some small traders said the new tax regime would adversely affect their businesses. They contended that the time given to them for GST compliance was short.

The traders have demanded that the GST should be imposed on apparel and not fabric.